an official statement has already been posted by samsung switzerland that the first time it has to be used by that region (sim/carriers) then its unlocked completely... just to avoid (illegal) sales from one region to other..

why are you supporting samsung blindly. why to get the region locked sims after paying phone at full price. Suppose u travel in different region and hard reset ur phone. Android was all about open sysem and samsung will def get lesser sales for this

The iMedia mislead you. Make your research.
Ones you put your SIM card inside it unlocks , YOU CAN USE ANY OTHER REGION SIMs.
You can use NOTE 3 with any sim card anywhere!!!!!!!
BAD MOVE BY PhoneARENA and the other iMedia, but that's what they are for. LOL

While Samsung’s wordings aren’t very clear, it seems that the Galaxy Note 3 will actually be usable everywhere, but not before it is activated with a SIM from the region it was bought in. Once you activate it/use it with a local SIM, you’ll be able to visit other regions/travel abroad and use it with SIM cards from that particular region without issues. This is likely to reduce grey imports by retailers and those who want to make a quick buck by importing the device and selling it at higher prices, as the retailer would have to open the box to activate it before selling it, which would make it less attractive to a buyer.

No...... this is meant to soothe carrier's in Eu and America's that were afraid phones sold in those regions, wouldn't just fly east or west out of their regions to be activated on carriers elsewhere first. Smart move.... since these two markets still depend on subsidised contracts!

Meaning with International Models... scalpers could swoop in and pick up phones meant for specific carriers in those Regions and sell them in other markets. This just requires them to be activated in the market they are sold in.

And if they are International phones in the first place. So why would you even need to IMPORT a Samsung Phone that's the same as the one sold in your Region?

" So why would you even need to IMPORT a Samsung Phone that's the same as the one sold in your Region?"

Because the one sold in your region is more expensive, that would be my reason for wanting to buy cheaper elsewhere. It is called free market competition, and it is a good thing. Samsung are trying to prevent that, not because the so called "grey" market is a bad thing from which the customer needs protection, but because Samsung wants to be the one doing the importing and taking that extra profit for themselves. The only difference is that when Samsung imports a phone and sells it they don't call it "grey", when someone else does they do call it "grey", like it was something dreadful and bad.

Except there are often differences between regional models. For example, one region may get a Snapdragon processor whilst another gets an Exynos. One region may use an Amoled screen, whilst another uses a TFT screen. Etc...

Personal preferences exist, and this way of doing business makes it harder for people to get the product they want.

Maybe because the problem is not solved. No website or blog show officail statement from samsung yet. and please read my story

Hi (sorry for my English)

I buy the note 3 from studenmobile . nl it is Netherland webshop for phone. And the phone is come without contact to any Provider here.and i live in Nederland

I use the Dutch sim card (Vadafone, Tele2, T-mobile) for calling chatting internet. what ever that the phone can use already for 2-3 day. This is enough for Activation ? it is anough for Regitered ?

Now I should can now just put Thai sim card in it already ? But it not working it still need a code for unlock the sim.

I try all the Thai Sim card i have.... AIS, True Companay, DTAC. None of it working.

I also call to Samsung support in Netherland. Samsung Service - en Informatielijn
I get 3 different answer.
First one She only say just follow what the box say if you have problem with it just change the phone within 7 day.

Second one say.. I just go to the any simlock free shop for ask for helping. But the phone will only working a about 14 Day in Thailand if i make it a simlock free and use Thai Simcard. Or if i want to use longer i have to ask from Thai provider.

Third one. She not even know what I'm talking about. I mean she not know about this model. When i say Galaxy note 3,she not know., SN-N9005 she not know. I have to told her the serial number and many thing before she know that this model is available.

From the all answer I get. It seem like they not aware this problem yet in Nederland. Or they not being train yet what they have to do. Or they being trail only say do what the box say if you do not want it just return and buy something else.

If someone also from NL whom have this phone. Do you have a same problem ?

And please do not say your phone working fine when you have a Eu phone and put USA sim card in. or other way around. USA and EU sim card is not locking.

@syedej123
" those who want to make a quick buck by importing the device and selling it at higher prices"

Um, that would be Samsung. That is why they are doing this. It isn't to stop phones being imported to any region and sold "at higher prices", it is to stop the other guys doing it so that Samsung can do it themselves. It is called protectionism, it is done to maintain prices higher than they would otherwise be if market forces operated freely.

Then you might want to move to where they're cheaper! ;-P ......because the reality is Free Market doesn't mean anything to Americans and just a few countries in the EU!

Like in UK and even some former Eastern Block nations have real competition w/ rates way better than ours. Pay as You Go rules because governments force corporations to compete instead of allowing monopolies, like we have here. Where we basically only have two real choices in AT&T and Verizon w/ full coverage w/ Lobbyists living DC!

China Mobile is the biggest in World, because they are entirely Pay as You Go. No contracts of their own means they compete by having the best rates. Not tying us fools into long term contracts paying the equivalent of 4 full price phones to keep Apple in business w/ carrier subsidization!

China has a more Open and Free Capitalist Market than we do.... w/o the likes of ITC and Gov subsidised Corporate Lobbyists/Cronyism we have here!!!

But we are the idiots that let it happen. By being credit suckers for a not so Free low price of Only $99.99 contract deals. Which means we end up paying $2000 for a $500 phone. So we are the problem as having the highest credit failure rate in the World!

Samsung's official Swiss Facebook account has stepped in with some information regarding the locking issue. According to the official source, a European SIM-locked Galaxy Note 3 could be used outside of Europe (thus becoming unlocked) as long as you activate it with a European SIM card first.

This sucks! The CSC thing was already a pain in the ass now this. I see this as a deciding factor for people choosing between samsung phones and the competition. I may be moving to another country soon so I guess the GS3 is my last samsung phone. I was looking forward to the new premium samsung phones coming in 2014.

probably not many. People who import/buy unlocked phones are in the SEVERE minority stateside. Still is a very strange move. Samsung could better sync their retailing efforts so that it can minimize the need for this.

HTC One M9 camera review: Exploring every corner of the Sense camera app

All content (phone reviews, news, specs, info), design and layouts are Copyright 2001-2015 phoneArena.com. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part or in any form or medium without written permission is prohibited! Privacy . Terms of use . Cookies . Team